Mauna ~ (4 of 7) ~ Don’t Worry! Be Happy!

The fifth, sixth and seventh chapters of Matthew’s Gospel are known, collectively, as “The Sermon on the Mount!” It has been called “The Greatest Sermon of All Time!” The teaching is very similar to Luke 6:17-49 which is referred to as “The Sermon on the Plain”. Scholars agree that this indicates these were common teachings and themes that Jesus spoke of frequently from place to place. Anything Jesus felt was important enough to repeat clearly deserves some deep study and application on our part. The Sermon on the Mount and The Sermon on the Plain form a short Discipleship 101 course for us. What are the BASICS of what it means to truly be a FULLY DEVOTED follower of Jesus? What should we do? How should we speak? How should we act? How should we treat others? What should our motives be? In November and December, Pastor G will take seven weeks to dig deep into these incredibly important teachings of Jesus in his new message series: MAUNA: Teachings from the Sermon on the Mount.

MESSAGE NOTES

Here’s a little song I wrote! You might want to sing it note for note! Don’t worry, be happy! In every life we have some trouble! But when you worry you make it double! Don’t worry, be happy! ~ Bobby McFarrin ~ 1988

Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? ~ Matthew 6:25

Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are? And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life? ~ Matthew 6:26-27

Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, won’t He clothe you even more, you people of little faith? ~ Matthew 6:28-30

So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ~ Matthew 6:31-32

But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own. ~ Matthew 6:33-34

Be anxious for NOTHING, but in EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication with THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 4:6-7

GO DEEPER
ALOHA GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:1) Do you remember the song “Don’t Worry! Be Happy!” when it first came out? Did you love it or hate it? Why?

READ: Matthew 6:25-27DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1) Do you ever worry? If so, what kind of things cause you to worry (have anxiety)? Why do you worry about them? Is there anything you do that helps you overcome that anxiety? If so, what?

2) Jesus asks if there is more to life than food and clothing? What do you think He means? What are some of the inferred things that are more important than food and clothing? Why?

3) Jesus asks if worrying can add any time to our life. Obviously we know the answer is no so what point is He trying to get us to thing about?

READ: Matthew 6:28-34DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1) When Jesus refers to God’s promise to feed us and “clothe” us, how do we explain all the starving children in the world? How do we explain all the people who have no shoes, no shelter, one set or one partial set of clothing?

2) Why do the homless and impoverished exist? Many of them are believers in Jesus and yet they are dying of exposure, starvation and lack of clean water. Why isn’t God providing for them?

3) When Jesus says “do not worry about tomorrow” does He mean it is wrong for us to make any plans? Should we just head into each day as a clean slate assuming everything will fall into place and everything will be provided for us? Why or why not?

READ: Philippians 4:6-7DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1) What is the difference between prayer and supplication?

2) Why does Paul indicate all our prayers should be offered “with Thanksgiving?” What, specifically, are we offering prayers for?

3) What does Paul mean by “the peace of God?” How can an intangible thing like peace “guard” our hearts and minds?

4) Some translations say “peace that passes understanding.” The translation Pastor Greg used says “peace which surpasses all comprehension.” Have you ever experienced the peace Paul is talking about? What were the circumstances?

5) How would you explain this peace to a non-believer? How difficult is it to define something that surpasses all comprehension? How can we recognize it if we cannot understand or comprehend it?